a's

stone, sharp like the noise in my head. I didn't move to pick

ages too white, too final. My signature line waited. Ale

emotion. J

t do it.

*

n glistened. I looked, but I failed to notice it. My chest

n't look. I didn't nee

ag

like it might bite me. Cami

id beneath it, anonymou

side, one hand on my bag strap. The timestamp read six minutes ago. Th

in the envelope, and stuffed it in my tote. Then bolted.

eucalyptus and leftover Chine

at against the curtain edge, bare

ed into an untidy bun as if she had just sprinted out of bed, a

ot anybody." "But someone sent you that p

shook before I could stop it. Camille wa

with confusion written all over my

happened the last time. They said he was 'just ch

gh. "So what now? You're going to marry some cold

e of the futon, leaned forward, a

, frozen in that video from my apartment. The calm

maybe I deserve

't s

love, my life. I stayed. Even when I saw the cracks, I kept

rouched in front of me. "You got ou

nked, he was there. In my memory. I

curled up on the couch, eyes wide open and wired, blanket

ery time my eyes drifted clos

my wrist. Tight. Bruising. "Don'

h my life. But my steps had been too slow. L

How soft it sounded. He made me feel wanted. H

lked quietly to the window. My heart sank. A black car was parked across the street. The engine

rings.

el

e's o

e he didn't get startled, even when woken up

us

ille's house. I can't

r paus

papers." I bl

va. That means you've

ened. No so

Alexander said. "This

m felt too still. Even the air didn

to it. A tall, lean, and familiar figure. He stepped

h mine. He smiled. Then, slowly, d

He entered the

d. No stamp. No return address. Just on

of me asleep on Camille's couch. My phone clutch

ned. Because that picture... had b

e was already in the apartment. And now... I

d said he could make

was ready to